Lamb of God

Formed in the mid-1990s in Richmond, Virginia, Lamb of God belongs to the American groove metal scene that emerged from the New Wave of American Heavy Metal movement. The band initially performed under the name Burn the Priest, releasing a self-titled debut in 1999, before permanently adopting the name Lamb of God and issuing New American Gospel in 2000 and As the Palaces Burn in 2003, which established a sound built on syncopated riffs, a heavy rhythm section, and screamed vocals. Fronted by vocalist Randy Blythe, with Mark Morton and Willie Adler on guitars and John Campbell on bass, Lamb of God solidified its identity with Ashes of the Wake (2004) and Sacrament (2006), records that reinforced its thrash roots and the political edge of its lyrics. Subsequent releases—from Wrath (2009) and Resolution (2012) to VII: Sturm und Drang (2015)—showed a move toward more varied structures while retaining the groove metal foundation. After founding drummer Chris Adler departed and was replaced by Art Cruz, Lamb of God released Lamb of God in 2020 and Omens in 2022, extending a discography marked by steady international touring and appearances at major metal festivals.